For The Sun Today Caroline Kennedy recently visited Seattle's Chinatown. The Panama Hotel was mentioned in the book: "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford which she read in her book club.

Caroline Kennedy is a woman of many different talents. Kennedy recently was named a winner of the Bluffton Today Cookie Contest for her peppermint bars. She has been entering recipes in the contest for five years. However, Kennedy does much more than bake cookies.

A Nashville native, Kennedy began collecting cookbooks at the age of eight. She majored in home economics in college at the University of Tennessee. Her love of cooking was developed at a young age because of her mother.

Two years ago, Kennedy published the cookbook, “Recipes from a Mother’s Heart” which included her mother’s recipes. She sold 300 copies and hopes to reprint it soon.

“I can remember when I was a child and tried to make doughnuts,” Kennedy said. “I was so scared of turning the oil up that the dough just sat in the Crisco for a long time. I saw my mom coming home from work and was scared that I was going to get in trouble so I took the dough out, wrapped it up and hid it in a drawer in my room. Then I poured the grease down the sink.”

Kennedy said she kept the dough for so long it started to mold so she buried it in the backyard.

“I never told my mom that story until she was on her deathbed,” Kennedy said. “She just looked at me like ‘you little booger’.”

Kennedy learned how to cook traditional southern comfort food but has collected more than 1,000 different cookbooks. During the 1970s when the Southern Living Magazine began, Kennedy submitted many recipes.

“I’ve contributed the most recipes to Southern Living Magazine and I’ve had some on the cover,” Kennedy said.

She is currently one of the food editors for SunSations.

“I’ve always loved to write,” Kennedy said. “I started a lifestyles magazine in Georgia and was the food editor for the Morgan County Citizen.”

Not only does Kennedy love to write and cook, but she also has a love for interior design. She specializes in period homes of the 1840-1930s. She became recertified in interior design at the Art Institute of Atlanta and has restored more than 50 period homes.

“I still have clients in Atlanta and interior design is something I love to do,” Kennedy said.

While being a travel agent for 12 years, Kennedy developed a love for seeing the world. Kennedy enjoys writing about her travel excursions. Her favorite trip was in 2003 when she volunteered for Earthwatch Institute in Kaikora, New Zealand.

“I assisted a marine biologist from Texas A&M University with Dusky Dolphin Research,” Kennedy said. “I absolutely love dolphins so it was such a great experience. I enjoy traveling and believe that when you travel alone you get to experience so much more.”

Kennedy’s travel plans include trading homes with a couple in England for a month over the summer. While traveling is added to the long list of Kennedy’s hobbies, she also is involved with many clubs in Sun City. She is a member of the Lowcountry Civil War Round Table, Sun City Veterans Association, Photography Club, Computer Club and the Book Club.

“I guess I’m a woman of many colors,” Kennedy said. “I’ve got a lot of energy and it’s hard for me to focus on one thing.”

Besides her involvement in the community clubs, Kennedy also stays involved in her neighborhood by hosting dinners. Lynda Hawkins has attended many of the neighborhood dinners and admires Kennedy’s energy.

“I’ve known Caroline for about seven years and this girl has done a little bit of everything,” Lynda Hawkins said. “She’s someone to admire and she loves adventure. She’ll tackle things some people wouldn’t even think about and I’ve always said she gets bored easily. Caroline is a really likeable person and very interesting to talk to because she has done so much in so many different places.”

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